Happy Friday!
Here’s what’s going on at St. Mark as we prepare to celebrate the Seventh Sunday of Easter.
THERE ARE TWO COLLECTIONS THIS WEEKEND: Stewardship, and Catholic Communications Campaign.
MMMM, BACON! The St. Mark Youth Group will hold its 3rd Annual Bacon Fundraiser this weekend, May 31/June 1. They will be selling delicious crispy bacon after all Masses. All money raised will help defray the cost of their Steubenville East Conference this summer.
PROJECT FROM THE HEART: In honor of Memorial Day, Project From the Heart will be collecting supplies for the troops until June 1. Collection boxes have been placed at the main entrance of the church and in the Upper Room. Items especially needed include hand wipes, travel sized shampoo, body wash, hand lotion, deodorant, sunscreen, toothpaste, dental floss, pocket size tissues, etc. Thank you for your generosity.
THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BLOOD DRIVE will be held TOMORROW, Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Center. Please visit www.redcross.org and click on the Give Blood link to register. There are still appointments available.
THE KNIGHTS MONTH-LONG ROSARY ends tomorrow, May 31, following the 5:00 Mass. Thank you to all who prayed along with the Knights during the month of May. As they were leaving the church after praying the Rosary on Memorial Day, parishioners were blessed with a beautiful double rainbow over the church and Blessed Mother. Please see the attached photos!
MASS BOOK 2026: The 2026 Mass Book will open on Monday, June 2, 2025. Masses may be arranged in writing or email (email requests will not be fulfilled until payment is received.) Masses are booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
NO PHONE CALLS OR IN-PERSON REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED
Stipends are required at the time of scheduling. Masses and Collective Intention Masses are $10.00 each. Each family may schedule three (3) Masses: two (2) weekend Masses and one (1) weekday Mass. Also, the Perpetual Candle which runs Sunday through Saturday may be scheduled at $10.00 per week.
Please print legibly. Please provide the date(s) you would like. Please provide alternate date(s) in case someone has already selected your date. Please provide the time for your Mass and alternate times in case someone has already selected your time. Please print legibly how you wish the intention to be remembered e.g., Smith Family,etc. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER WITH YOUR REQUEST. The office will send you a receipt for your payment as well as a sheet listing your Mass intentions. Please save the sheet.
NEXT SUNDAY IS PENTECOST SUNDAY. Red is the liturgical color of Pentecost, symbolizing the flames of the Holy Spirit. Please wear RED to Mass next weekend!
DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION AT ST. MARK: Mark your calendars for Monday, June 9, 2025. Bishop Caggiano will celebrate Mass at St. Mark at 11:30 a.m., followed by a Eucharistic Procession. Please see the attached poster for details.
BIBLE STUDY with Fr. Reggie meets on Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Upper Room. Newcomers are welcome, please email Laura (lrobertson@stmarkstfd.org) to register.
CONCERT ON THE GREAT LAWN: Save the date, Wednesday, June 18th featuring the Tony Ferrigno Trio. See the attached poster for all information.
FR. REGGIE’S INSTALLATION MASS will be held on Sunday, June 29, at 11:30 a.m. A reception with light refreshments will follow in the Parish Center. All are welcome!
A NEW FOOD DONATION BIN has been put in the Upper Room. Please help us keep the vestibule and side entrances clear and clean by using this bin for all food donations for Blessed Sacrament and all other food drives. Thank you!
FORMED.ORG: St. Mark has purchased the subscription to Formed, an on-line program that provides extensive reading and viewing materials for our Catholic faith. Books, videos, commentary, family programs, Spanish materials, and much more are available to you FREE OF CHARGE! Instructions for accessing FORMED.ORG are as follows:
Go to Formed.org
Click on “sign up”
Click on “sign up as parishioner”
Type in St. Mark Stratford CT
Type in your name
Type in your eMail address
ST. MARK SCHOOL NEWS:
The St. Mark School collection of bottles and cans will be held next Saturday, June 7 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon in front of the parish center.
Handmade blankets needed:
In celebration of St. Mark School’s 60th Anniversary, we are excited to partner with Project Linus for a heartfelt, school-wide service initiative. Our goal is to create 60 handmade fleece blankets to bring warmth, comfort, and hope to children in need.
We invite our parish community to support this effort! The 60th Anniversary Committee is gratefully accepting donations of handmade blankets.
Donations can be dropped off at the St. Mark School Main Office by June 2, 2025. Questions .. contact Jennifer Tayman at AMENTeam@stmarkschool.org.
Thank you for helping us share love and comfort, one blanket at a time!
Golf Tournament:
St. Mark School will be hosting their Golf Tournament on Monday, June 16, 2025, at Orange Hills Country Club. The tournament kicks off at 8:00 a.m. with a shotgun start. Sponsor opportunities are available. Please visit https//birdease.com/stmarkgolfclassic for more information or to reserve your foursome! Please see the attached poster.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR FR. REGGIE ABOUT OUR FAITH? Write it down and drop it in the “Ask your Pastor a Question” box, there’s one by each entrance of the church. Fr. Reggie will answer your questions in the weekly Flocknote.
The boxes were quiet this week, check back next week for more Q&A.
DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT VIRTUS SAFE ENVIRONMENT: The Diocese of Bridgeport is committed to the safety and welfare of our children! As all volunteers are aware, an updated background check and five-year renewal training session is imperative to keeping our children and community safe. For your information, you may visit the St. Mark website, click on “links,” click on “Diocese of Bridgeport” tab, click on “Safe Environment,” and read and review the most current data regarding safety for our children, and elderly, in the community. For those who are volunteers, please make sure you are updated in VIRTUS by visiting your existing account at www.VIRTUSonline.org. Or you may phone the Office of Safe Environment: 203-416-1407.
Additional resources are available and free to all parents at our parish. These resources include articles on human trafficking, youth protection, and care for vulnerable adults. Please visit the Virtus website Resources page for information:
The Diocese of Bridgeport also offers all parents the opportunity to attend Safe Environment training to supplement the Safe Environment training your child receives in public school. Please visit the Diocese of Bridgeport website to learn more and to sign up for this free and valuable training: https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/safe-environments/home/.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Laura and Joan
